We’re just a little over a year away until Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens on both coasts. While we still, officially, know very little, we do know the 14-acre land will be Disney’s most detailed and immersive venture yet.
Just take a look at the detailed model of Black Spire Outpost (the name of the village on the planet Batuu where Galaxy’s Edge will be set) and the picture of an actual X-Wing Imagineers are working on for the land.
Besides the incredible attention to detail, recent patent filings lead me to believe Disney is attempting to redefine what the term theme park emersion means. And based on some of these filing you have to ask – will Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge be the most technologically advanced land ever?
Your Actions Will Determine the Story
One of the early points Disney made about Galaxy’s Edge is the idea that your actions will impact how characters in the land interact with you.
Say you do a great job manning the Millennium Falcon. Then Resistance fighters may start approaching you for help.
Or maybe you’d rather join the Dark Side of the Force. All you’ll need to do is show your allegiance to the First Order.
The idea that your choices impact the narrative is completely unprecedented for a theme park.
Up until this point, theme parks were something you interact with to an extent, but for the most part, your presence had no real impact on the story. With Batuu and especially the Star Wars Hotel at Walt Disney World, it appears this idea will be completely flipped. The land will be there to interact with you. You’ll be driving the narrative.
But how will Disney accomplish this?
Disney has begun filing patents for a virtual narrative configuration. Essentially, AI will be used to create narrative content based on feedback and responses from guests. The patent makes reference to virtual space, which leads me to believe some sort of VR will be involved. It could also mean it will be integrated into a ride, like the Millennium Falcon attraction, which is supposed to allow unprecedented control over the mission you complete. Or even some sort of interactive App that sends you on missions.
It will be interesting to see how Disney captures guest data. In Walt Disney World it should be fairly straightforward since pretty much every guest wears a MagicBand. In Disneyland, where there aren’t MagicBands, it may be more difficult. This is another reason having an App makes sense.
Real Blaster Fire
When George Lucas created Star Wars, he created things that had never before been seen on screen. Lightsabers, Imperial Fighters flying through space and blasters. Ever since the original trilogy was released, people have dreamed about one day when these things might be real.
As reported by WDW News Today, for blasters, that day may be sometime in 2019. The site uncovered a patent filed by Disney for a process that would allow them to mimic real blaster fire.
The process essentially uses a number of mini reflective surfaces to show the blaster traveling through space. The trick is having these surfaces attached to an actuator that can quickly appear and disappear from view.
WDW News Today noted that based on the patent filing, this technology most likely will be used indoors. Meaning the Battle with the First Order attraction just took it to a whole other level.
Imagine being chased by Stormtroopers with blaster firing whizzing past you. Now instead of watching the action, it can surround you.
Working Lightsabers
Once Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens, it sounds like you’re going to be able to upgrade your plastic Lightsaber for a “real” one.
Based on the patent filed by Disney:
“A process and system capture infrared light that is reflected or emitted from a device to precisely locate the device. The process and system project visible light from a light source toward the device such that the light is precisely targeted at the device. Preferably the visible light passes through an atmosphere containing particulate matter rendering the visible light as a beam that appears to emanate from the device rather than from the light source.”
Based on this, it appears that your Lightsaber will emit LEDs and have sensors to allow you to interact with your surroundings, like deflecting blaster fire. It’s also been rumored that the effect might be achieved with augmented reality. In addition, guests could also be fitted with a haptic suit, so you could feel the vibration if you happen to miss an incoming shot.
Ready for the Future
Based on recent patent filings and everything Disney has released so far, it seems like Galaxy’s Edge is shaping up to be lightyears ahead of anything ever built before at a theme park. Luckily, we have less than 18 months to find out.
What feature are you hoping they include in the new Star Wars Land?
